RE: Swimmers should take E. coli warnings seriously

["Alm, Elizabeth Wheeler" <alm1ew@cmich.edu>]

Yes, I take it back about the birds, they are warm-blooded animals  :)
 
We have also shown that the Great Lakes beach sand environment exerts a selective pressure that maintains particular strains of E. coli in the sand where they survive year-to-year (Walk et al., 2007. Environmental Microbiology).  Whitman and McLellan and Sadowsky have published studies that indicate naturalized or indigenous E. coli in beach sand.
 
I agree with you Jeff that for a variety of reasons E. coli is not a suitable indicator of fecal contamination.  Enterococci have also been shown to persist and/or replicate in the environment. I wonder whether there is a good biological indicator of fecal contamination. It seems that the more we study microorganisms in the environment the more complexity we reveal, the more we realize we don't know as much about these species as we thought we did. Maybe a chemical indicator will be the best way to go.
 
Elizabeth Alm, Ph.D.
Professor, Microbiology
Central Michigan University

________________________________

From: MacDonald, Jeff [mailto:JMacDonald@mmsd.com]
Sent: Wed 7/18/2007 11:17 AM
To: Alm, Elizabeth Wheeler
Subject: RE: Swimmers should take E. coli warnings seriously



Birds are most definitely warm-blooded animals.

Also, I think the work of Solo-Gabriele has shown that, especially in
sub-tropical areas, reproduction of E.coli in riparian soils and sands
does occur.  Some limited microcosm work I have done supports this.  I
think that given appropriate nutrients and at a high enough temperature
(above 10C) E. coli will reproduce.  Moisture levels in the sand may
also have an influence, with very moist sand not as hospitable to E.
coli as somewhat drier sand.  Even though we are not 'sub-tropical' here
in the Great Lakes, I suspect we come close enough during the summer
months.  Although it may be the best tool we currently have, I don't
think E. coli is a reliable tool for beach monitoring.

Regards -

Jeffrey A. MacDonald, MS, Microbiologist
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
250 West Seeboth Street
Milwaukee, WI 53204
phone (414) 277-6361
fax   (414) 225-2266





-----Original Message-----
From: owner-beachnet@great-lakes.net
[mailto:owner-beachnet@great-lakes.net] On Behalf Of Alm, Elizabeth
Wheeler
Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2007 7:59 AM
To: Shannon Briggs; beachnet@great-lakes.net
Subject: RE: Swimmers should take E. coli warnings seriously

I have a question for the group.  Articles like this and others say that
E. coli is found in warm-blooded animals. Birds are not "warm-blooded
animals" are they? yet we know that some birds, particularly in the US
carry E. coli (although David Gordon from Australia says that birds have
very low levels of E. coli, Australian birds I presume). Also reptiles
carry E. coli and I'm pretty sure amphibians do too. Do fish?  I haven't
ever looked myself, has anyone of the group?

I've been taking transects this summer at beaches along the west coast
of Lake Michigan and I can have 0 CFU/mL E. coli in the beach water, 60
CFU/mL in the subsurface sand directly below where the water came from,
and 1050 CFU/mL E. coli in the swash sand just a meter up beach from the
sub and water samples...  and these are dry weather days. 

When I read this article I am still thinking that re-suspension of E.
coli from the beach face is as likely as washing of pet waste and duck
droppings into the bay.  Any thoughts???

Elizabeth Alm, Ph.D.
Professor, Microbiology
Central Michigan University

________________________________

From: owner-beachnet@great-lakes.net on behalf of Shannon Briggs
Sent: Wed 7/18/2007 8:35 AM
To: beachnet@great-lakes.net
Subject: Swimmers should take E. coli warnings seriously



please see editorial in local paper
http://www.record-eagle.com/2007/jul/17edit.htm

07/17/2007
Editorial
Swimmers should take E. coli warnings seriously

The issue:
E. coli warnings

Our view:
It's a serious issue

See related story:
Advisory warns of E. coli at area beaches - July 11, 2007

Send a letter to the editor

Swimmers should take E. coli warnings seriously

Get used to it.

If we have more big rainstorms, we're probably going to see more E. coli
warnings this summer like those issued last week for West and East Bay
beaches.

Local health officials changed their protocol this year for putting out
the advisories. In past years, they issued alerts after the second day
of high counts because the counts often went down within 24 hours after
a storm. This year, public warnings are issued on the first day.

High E. coli counts are an indicator of unhealthy water and the need for
individuals, local governments and state agencies to ratchet up
monitoring, public education efforts and policies that safeguard Grand
Traverse Bay and the people who use it.

Here are some things we can do:

* Take the warnings seriously.

A high E. coli count is an indicator of fecal matter in the water.
Warnings are issued if more than 300 colonies of E. coli are found in
100 milliliters of water, or about a tenth of a quart. The bacteria is
found naturally in the digestive systems of warm-blooded animals,
including humans. High counts mean that full-body contact with
contaminated water can cause stomach aches, diarrhea, vomiting or other
illnesses. Older adults, young children and people with compromised
immune systems are especially vulnerable.

* Understand the underlying cause.

E. coli warnings in this region rarely have something to do with sewage
spills. Most alerts come after heavy rains. Storm drains fill, overflow
and flush duck droppings and animal waste as well as fertilizer and
other debris into the bay. Such was the case with last week's warnings.
Sections of beach closest to storm drains had the highest readings, said
Sarah U'Ren, project coordinator for the Watershed Center Grand
Traverse, which has the water at local beaches tested every Monday.

* Do something to protect yourself and others.

If you're thinking about going swimming after a heavy rainstorm, think
again. Where do you want to go? Know where the storm drains are. Clinch
Park Beach is not near a storm drain and rarely has a high E. coli
count, U'Ren said.

* Educate yourself and support public education efforts.

Clean up pet waste and dispose of it in trash bins. Don't discharge boat
and recreational vehicle sewage into the water or onto the ground where
it can get in the groundwater. Report those who do. It's illegal for a
very good reason - your health. The Department of Environmental Quality
has a Web site - www.deq.state.mi.us/beach/public/default.aspx - that
lists public beaches that are monitored by county. It also gives a
history of test results.


Copyright 1998-2007 Traverse City Record-Eagle


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